Propeller



Sept. 7, 1965 c. A. GQNGWER PROPELLER 2 Sheets-Sheet l Original FiledFeb. l0

INVENTOR. CALVIN A. GONGWER A TTOHNEYS Sept' 7, 1965 c. A. GoNGWl-:R3,204,699

PROPELLER Original Filed Feb. l0, 1961 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 IO 3o 28 3o F157j Fig -5 CA LVI hIIN/.ElglWER BY S @MJL A TTORNEYS United States PatentO l3,204,699 PROPELLER Calvin A. Gongwer, Glendora, Calif., assignor toAerojet-'General Corporation, Azusa, Calif., a corporation of OhioOriginal application Feb. 10, 1961, Ser. No. 88,554, now Patent No.3,122,759, dated Mar. 3, 1964. Divided and this application Feb. 28,1964, Ser. No. 348,249

3 Claims. '(Cl. 170-135) This application is a division of my copendingapplication Serial No. 88,554, led February 10, 1961, now U.S. Patent3,122,759 issued March 3, 1964, and entitled Swimmers Propulsion Device.

This invention relates to swimmer propulsion devices and has for itsobject to provide a swimming device operating on a ishtail-likepropulsion principle.

Heretofore, swimmers aids have primarily been based upon the principleof enlarging the eiIective area of the hands and feet. It has been notedthat the Australian crawl flutter kick is used by most swimmers, and ittends to be quite smiliar to the action of a iishtail. However, theswimmer is limited upon the endurance of the individual muscles used inthis swimming stroke. Fin systems previously known in the art wereadapted to be located and were operable at or near the feet of theswimmer. A principal objection of former devices was the unsatisfactoryoscillation of the body, that is, the body wagged, rather than the iins.

The present invention however eliminates this objectionable oscillationof the body by virtue of its novel con` struction. In its broadestaspect, the present invention comprises a plate adapted to be engaged tolegs of a swimmer below the knee. A pair of fins are pivotally attachedto an extension of the plate.

A principal feature of the present invention is the transversereactions, of the fins which are perpendicular to the propulsivareactions, are directed through the approximate center of gravity of thebody since the tins are positioned immediately adjacent to the torso.Therefore, the body maintains its attitude despite these transverseforces.

Another feature resides in the stabilizing wing that can be adjusted bythe swimmer during use to aid in diving or surfacing.

Another feature resides in the provision of a swimming device operableby the lower body, leaving the arms free to perform work whileunderwater.

Other features and advantages not specifically enumerated above will beapparent after consideration of the following detailed description andthe appended claims. The preferred form which the invention may assumeis illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which:

FIGURE l is a side elevation of the present invention in use by aswimmer in a relaxed position;

FIGURE 2 is a side elevation of the present invention similar to FIGURE1 with the swimmer in a kick position;

FIGURE 3 is a front elevation of the present invention;

FIGURE 4 is a plan View of the present invention;

FIGURE 5 is a partial side elevation of the present invention shown witha swimmers foot holding the rear stabilizing wing in a diving attitude;and

FIGURE 6 is a partial side elevation of the present invention, similarto FIGURE 5, shown with the swimmers foot holding the rear stabilizingwing in a surfacing attitude.

A swimming device 10 incorporating the present invention is shown inFIGURES 1-4. Three principal elements form the swimming device 10 andconstitute:

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the leg plate 12 straddled by the swimmer, the forward oscillating tinsor vanes 14, 16 and a rear stabilizing wing 20.

The plate 12 which may be broadly characterized as an energy engine isgenerally ilat and oblong in conguration and constructed from an upperportion 22 and a lower portion 24. A plurality of bolts 26 are xedlyattached to the lower portion 24 of plate 12 and pass through aplurality of passageways (not shown) in the upper portion 22. Wing nuts28 are threadedly received by the bolts 26 and are positioned onopposite sides of the upper portion 22. Adjustment of the wing nuts 28allows the upper portion 22 to be adjusted in relation to the lowerportion 24.

The plate 12 has a plurality of projections 30, 32, 34, 36 extendinglaterally therefrom, the projections 30, 32, lying in one row andprojections 34, 36 lying in a second row, thus providing a pair of rowsof such projections. The position of the projections 30-36, as shown inFIGURES 1 and 2, illustrates the support around the leg and calf of aswimmer. Padding may be provided around the projections 30'36 to avoidpossible discomfort to the legs of the swimmer while in use. Theprojections 3036 are adjustable by the wing nuts 28 to allow swimmers ofdifferent leg sizes to use the same swimming device.

A frame member comprising a curved rod or bar 40 having a bifurcated endportion 42 is xedly attached to the plate 12 by a plurality of rivets44, or the like, and extends forwardly of the plate and lies in theplane of the plate 12. A pair of vanes 14, 16 are pivotally mounted onthe forward portion of the curved rod 40 on the stub shaft 46 whichextends in generally opposite directions from the rod as seen in FIGURE4. Stub shaft 46 is xedly attached to the rod 4t) and rotativelyreceived by the vanes 14, 16. The plate 12 straddled by the swimmer, theprojections 30, 36 on the plate and rod 40 constitute a frame means fortransmitting motion from the swimmer to the oscillating ns 14, 16.

In the embodiment shown in FIGURES 1 and 2, a harness and coil springarrangement is used to center the ns 14, 16. The ns are near the centerof gravity of the swimmers body in FIGURE 1 to reduce to a minimum thewaggle or other movement of the swimmers body in response to a componentof force incident to oscillatory motion of the ns. The direction of thiscomponent is transverse or lateral to the direction of motion of theswimmer through the water. Although a spring is shown as a centeringdevice in this embodiment, other components may be used, such astorsional springs acting on the iins 14, 16 and positioned between thefins 14, 16 and the rod 40. A U-shaped harness 52 is pivotally attachedto the ns 14, 16 at pivot points S3, 54, respectively. A coil spring 56engages the U-shaped harness 52 at point 57 (FIGURE 4) and the eye bolt58 that is tixedly attached to the rod 40. Adjustment in tension of thisspring to suit the strength and speed of a swimmer by varying the amountof feathering action may be provided by a turnbuckle or the like (notshown).

A stabilizing n or wing 20 is provided in the rearrnost portion of theplate 12. A link 60 is pivotally mounted on the plate 12 by a rivet, andis lxedly mounted to the wing. The link 64 is iixedly attached to thewing 20 and terminates in a pedal-like projection 66 which can be usedby the swimmer to adjust the position of the wing 20. FIGURES 5 and 6show the movement of the wing 20 from the diving to the surfacingposition when manipulated by the swimmers toes or foot. A spring 68engages the eye bolt 69 which is attached to the plate 12 and the eyebolt 70 which is attached to the wing 20. It is within the scope of thepresent invention to use either a stabilizing wing 20 which isstationary or to use a wing which may be adjusted prior to putting thedevice in water. The purpose of the stabilizing wing is to hold theswimmers body in a level attitude. It is also conceivable that the wingmay be completely removed and that the swimmer use his arms to stabilizethe attitude of the body while swimming. Stabilization may also beachieved by conventional swim ns attached to the feet which may betilted in much the same manner.

In operation, the swimmer straddles the device 10 by placing a leg oneach side of the plate 12 and inserting the lower leg and calf betweenthe plurality of projections 30-36. The device is usually mounted whilethe swimmer is within the water of such a depth so that the device maybe immediately used. The swimmer assumes the prone position asillustrated in FIGURES l and 2 and begins the swimming stroke which isas follows: the knees are dropped in relation to the torso forcing thefins 14, 16 downwardly in the water to the position seen in FIGURE 2.The forward edges of the pivoted fins 14, 16 lead the rear edges duringdownward movement thereof since the downward force exerted by theswimmer is transferred directly to the forward edges of the fins and thewater resistance underneath the tins retards downward movement of therear edges. This movement of the ns 14, 16 starts their feathering oroscillating stroke. When the swimmers legs are thereafter straightenedcausing the fins 14, 16 to move upwardly to the position in FIGURE 1,the ns will be pivoted about the stub shaft 46 to a position as shown inphantom lines in FIGURE 2, the water above the fins resisting upwardmovement of the rear edges of the fins. The spring S6 constantly urgesthe ns 14, 16 to the center position and aids in causing the shtail oroscillating motion to reoccur and propel the body through the water. Thearms of the swimmer may be held directly in front of the head with thehands extended to aid in directing the swimmer. The hands may bemanipulated to act as vanes to cause yaw or roll. The feet may alsomanipulate the stabilizing wing 20, FIGURES- 5 and 6, to cause theswimmer to dive or surface upon the will of the swimmer. The swimmerthereafter repeats the knee action stroke to cause the iishtail motionthereby propelling the body through the water.

It will be recognized that modifications may be made within the scope ofthis invention. For example, the device may be operated by using thehands rather than the legs to cause the oscillating shtail motion of thefins. It is also possible to adjust the tension of the springs on thepropulsive tins to gain maximum efficiency.

It is also possible to remove the stabilizing lin or wing entirely andallow the manipulation of the swimmers arms to hold the body in a levelattitude. My invention is not to be limited to the single embodimentillustrated, which is given for illustration rather than limitation, andis limited only by the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A fluid propeller comprising a frame member adapted to parta-ke of toand fro motion, a pair of vanes respectively disposed on opposite sidesof said frame member in symmetrical relationship with respect to eachother and with respect to said frame member, a shaft ixedly attached tosaid frame member and extending outwardly from the opposite sidesthereof, each of said vanes being respectively mounted on said shaft forpivotal movement about an axis disposed forwardly of the longitudinalaxis -of said vane and parallel thereto, and an elastic memberconnecting a corresponding point of each of said vanes rearwardly of thelongitudinal axis thereof to said frame member for resiliently urgingsaid vanes to respective normal center positions, said vanes pivotallyoscillating about said s'haft in response to a to and fro motion beingimparted to said frame member in a direction substantially perpendicularto the resulting relative uid flow developed by the pivotal oscillationof said vanes.

2. A fluid propeller as set forth in claim 1, wherein said frame membercomprises a rigid bar constrained at the end thereof remote from saidshaft for oscillatory to and fro motion in a plane substantiallyperpendicular to the resulting relative uid ow developed by the pivotaloscillation of said vanes.

3. A uid propeller as set forth in claim 1, further including an energyengine adapted to be actuated by a propellable body to assume anoscillatory to and fro motion in a direction substantially perpendicularto the resulting relative fluid flow developed by the pivotaloscillation of said vanes, and said frame member comprising a rigid barflxedly attached at the end thereof remote from said shaft to saidenergy engine for oscillatory to and fro motion with said energy engine.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,706,974 3/29Beckert 9-305 X 3,678,482 2/63 Crowder ll5v-28 X FOREIGN PATENTS 72,0557/ 16 Austria.

`IULIUS E. WEST, Primary Examiner.

1. A FLUID PROPELLER COMPRISING A FRAME MEMBER ADAPTED TO PARTAKE OF TOAND FRO MOTION, A PAIR OF VANES RESPECTIVELY DISPOSED ON OPPOSITE SIDESOF SAID FRAME MEMBER IN SYMMETRICAL RELATIONSHIP WITH RESPECT TO EACHOTHER AND WITH RESPECT TO SAID FRAME MEMBER, A SHAFT FIXEDLY ATTACHED TOSAID FRAME MEMBER AND EXTENDING OUTWARDLY FROM THE OPPOSITE SIDESTHEREOF, EACH OF SAID VANES BEING RESPECTIVELY MOUNTED ON SAID SHAFT FORPIVOTAL MOVEMENT ABOUT AN AXIS DISPOSED FORWARDLY OF THE LONGITUDINALAXIS OF SAID VANE AND PARALLEL THERETO, AND AN ELASTIC MEMBER CONNECTINGA CORRESPONDING POINT OF EACH OF SAID VANES REARWARDLY OF THELONGITUDINAL AXIS THEREOF TO SAID FRAME MEMBER FOR RESILIENTLY URGINGSAID VANES TO RESPECTIVE NORMAL CENTER POSITIONS, SAID VANES PIVOTALLYOSCILLATING ABOUT SAID SHAFT IN RESPONSE TO A TO AND FRO MOTION BEINGIMPARTED TO SAID FRAME MEMBER IN A DIRECTION SUBSTANTIALLY PERPENDICULARTO THE RESULTING RELATIVE FLUID FLOW DEVELOPED BY THE PIVOTALOSCILLATION OF SAID VANES.